1. < Transplants

How long does it take to recover from donating a kidney?

Posted by alicat60 @alicat60, May 4 9:14pm

Does anybody have any info about how long it takes to recover from donating a kidney and their experience dealing with the pain? I’m considering donating to my husband. I’ll be 61 in May. Thank you.

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benedict66066 | @benedict66066 | May 5 9:51am

My son, 37 years old, donated a kidney for me 8 weeks ago via the National Kidney Registry. He had to be off work for 6 weeks due to the lifting requirement of his job. They paid all his wages; they paid all his travel expenses. They also paid our caregiver expense for his donation surgery. He was in a pretty good amount of pain for the first week and then got steadily better. In his surgery, they made a c-section like cut in the lower abdomen. Hope that helps.

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1 reply
carecare | @carecare | May 5 12:16pm

May what? I’ll be 61 May 8th. Happy Birthday🎉🎂

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1 reply
alicat60 | @alicat60 | May 5 4:21pm
In reply to @benedict66066 "My son, 37 years old, donated a kidney for me 8 weeks ago via the National..." + (show)
@benedict66066

My son, 37 years old, donated a kidney for me 8 weeks ago via the National Kidney Registry. He had to be off work for 6 weeks due to the lifting requirement of his job. They paid all his wages; they paid all his travel expenses. They also paid our caregiver expense for his donation surgery. He was in a pretty good amount of pain for the first week and then got steadily better. In his surgery, they made a c-section like cut in the lower abdomen. Hope that helps.

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Thank you for the info. That’s so nice that they paid for everything. Wishing you the best.

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alicat60 | @alicat60 | May 5 4:21pm
In reply to @carecare "May what? I’ll be 61 May 8th. Happy Birthday🎉🎂" + (show)
@carecare

May what? I’ll be 61 May 8th. Happy Birthday🎉🎂

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May 18th. Happy birthday to you too!

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benedict66066 | @benedict66066 | May 6 10:28am

Also, check out Glenna Frey, RN. She wrote a new and easy to read book called Understanding Living Kidney Donation which we found very helpful.

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1 reply
alicat60 | @alicat60 | May 6 9:24pm
In reply to @benedict66066 "Also, check out Glenna Frey, RN. She wrote a new and easy to read book called..." + (show)
@benedict66066

Also, check out Glenna Frey, RN. She wrote a new and easy to read book called Understanding Living Kidney Donation which we found very helpful.

Jump to this post

I’ll check it out. Than you.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | May 10 11:29am

@alicat60, I've just returned home from my annual post transplant check-up. I see that you are 60, and I want to let you know that I was 60 at the time of own organ transplant. Mine was a liver and kidney from an annymous deceasd donor at Mayo Rochester in 2009. I have not experienced living donatioin, so here are some Connect discussions that I want to share with you from members who have shared their experincs as living kidney donors:
- Any living kidney donors that can share?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/any-living-kidney-donors-that-can-share/
- Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/
Will you be at Mayo Clinic for the transplant? Have you already started the screening process for being a living donor? Is your husband on the lransplant wait list?

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